Pencil stand



Jan. 14, 1936. Q BUEHNER I 2,027,857

PENCIL STAND Filed June 10, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates in general to the art of article carriers and relates more particularly to an improved stand for adjustably carrying and supporting a pencil or the like.

The tendency to break off the point of a penoil, and of the undesired breaking of the lead within the wood of the pencil whenever a pencil is inadvertently dropped, is constantly brought home to all who use pencils. The users of pencils are further cognizant of the loss of time entailed in searching for pencils when needed.

It is accordingly an object of this invention toprovide an improved pencil stand which is simple, ornamental and conspicuous in construction, and which affords location of a pencil on a table or desk so that it will be at all times known where to find and reachfor the pencil, and which avoids breaking of the lead of the pencil by reason of the manner in which the pencil is controlled and supported during both times of use and none-use of the pencil.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible pencil stand having means for extending the range or territory over which the pencil may be used while nevertheless definitely related to the stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible pencil stand, wherein the flexible column normally vertically directed, is formed and cooperates with the means for extending the range or territory over which the pencil may be used, to afford minimum resistance to the free use of the pencil in writing, especially at the limit of the range or territory of use of the pencil, while nevertheless definitely related to the stand, the novel balls of the extending-retracting means aiding in lessening the pull on the hand of the Writer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible pencil stand wherein the flexible column automatically returns to its normal vertical DOS].- tion and the pencil to itsnormal position with reference to said column under the action of the extending-retracting means, from all points of use within said range or territory for the pencil even when the pencil is released by the hands of the individual using same when the column is bent more than ninety degrees, and the pencil at such bending of the column gravitates and depends to add its weight to that of the bent flexible column.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible pencil stand as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein the flexible, springformed column is united to the base of the stand by means of a screw bolt entering and threaded into the lower end of the spring-formed column and wherein said base is formed and constructed to preclude tipping of the stand even at times of said ninety degree bending of saidcolumn and of the said accompanying gravitation and depending of the pencil therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible pencil stand which is simple in construction, inexpensive and not likely to get out of order.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a full consideration of the following specification and of the drawing forming a part of the specification.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the pencil stand, the column thereof and pencil carried and supported thereby being in normal position, the View being partly in section for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention in its maximum extended condition.

It has been found that the described objects of this invention are satisfactorily attained by forming the flexible, spring-formed column I of the pencil stand generally indicated by the reference numeral 2, with hot drawn spring wire 3 of preferably .072 inch diameter. This wire 3 is wound into a spring having its turns in close relation. The turns are preferably uniform in diameter over the greater portion of the length of the column I, and over this length portion are of .4375 or inch internal diameter. The purposely provided other portion of the length of the column, that at the top of the completed pencil stand, is desirably substantially an inch in length and constituted of turns of smaller internal diameter and merges with a smooth curvature with the portion of the column first described. The overall length of the flexible column so formed is satisfactorily substantially thirteen inches.

The spring-formed column is united to the circular base 4 through the simple expedient of a screw bolt 5. A circular base 4 may be about four inches in diameter, and with considerable of its mass concentrated at its periphery, may weigh from one and one-half to two pounds. A base so constructed and formed it has been found satisfactorily prevents tipping of the stand under the described maximum range or territory of extension.

The base 4 may be of glass or any metal which may readily be cast. However, if glass is used to constitute the base it is preferable to provide a washer 5 between the adjacent end of the column I and the base 4, which may conveniently cover any defects in the contour of the opening in the base for receiving the screw bolt 5 and at the same time extends and distributes the points of application of the force involved in uniting the column I to the base 4 to thereby minimize the danger of fracturing the glass base. Whether the base 4 is constituted of glass or of metal the central opening provided therein by casting for the reception of the screw bolt 5, nevertheless does not have its wall threadedly engage the screw bolt 5, the threading action occurring only between the column I and the screw bolt 5. For this purpose the bottom of the base is countersunk at 'I to provide reaction for the correspondingly shaped head of the screw bolt 5 in accomplishing the firm uniting of the column I to the base 4. The screw bolt over this consideration needs merely conventional V-threads which inwardly engage between the turns at the lower end of the column I to provide an efficient threaded uniting of the column I to the base 4. This lower end of the spring-formed column I is ground or machined to a straight edge to aid in maintaining the column in the described normal vertical position on the base 4.

A flanged bushing or eyelet 8, which may be of metal, may be inserted in the bore at the reduced upper end of the column, to avoid sharp edges thereat which might otherwise interfere with the life of the means for extending the range or territory of use of the pencil, of the flexible pencil stand.

This extending and retracting means comprises a chain or cord 9 of sufficient flexibility having at one end a bail I secured to a ring II securable to and removable from a pencil I2 by means of a set screw or screws I3, and at the other end a retracting weight. It is preferred that the retracting weight be comprised of a series of balls I4. The halls I4, may in order to contribute economy, be cast and constituted of scrap metal, which preferably contains lead, which contributes the desired weight, some antimony which contributes the desired hardness and wearing qualities and some zinc which contributes the quality of toughness. It has been further found that the balls I4 of such composition metal, facilitating their sliding on metal, are desirably of a diameter about .020 of an inch under the internal diameter of the turns of wire forming the described greater length portion of the column I, and that the objects of the invention are satisfactorily further attained by using five balls in series in a pencil stand formed as specifically described above.

Forming the greater length portion of the column I of uniform diameter turns of the preferred wire 3 involves a factor of economy in the forming of the fiexible column of the pencil stand of this invention in that tapering the same thereat would involve a costlier method of manufacture and assures a straight line of column portion outwardly beyond its point of bending.

Providing the described substantially an inch length of reduced diameter turns of the same wire at the top of the column I adds length to the column to facilitate the bending thereof closer to the point at which it is united with the base 4. This facilitated bending thereat makes it easier to operate and. guide the pencil when the pencil stand is in extended condition. Additionally it will be noted that under any extended condition that the balls I4 of the extending and retracting means are limited to a position within the merging portion of the column located between the two diameter turn length portions thereof. The balls thereat, although not positioned at the extreme top end of the column, 5 are nevertheless located so as to in the bent condition of the column i aid in making easier the controlling and guiding of the pencil by the individual using same.

Then, when the user releases the pencil the provision of the reduced diameter turn length portion at the top of the column'I resulting in a location of the center of mass of the bent column closer to the base 4 assures the springformed column I of overcoming with its stored 5 resilient energy in bending near the base 4 the reduced moment to promptly and automatically restore the column I to its normal vertical position.

The spring-formed column I is accordingly of such construction so as to automatically return to its vertical position even when its free or top end is in the extended condition of the pencil stand located below the plane of the base 4, and

the pencil concurrently gravitates and depends from the said end of the column.

The series of balls I4 although temporarily positioned outwardly of the described baseward located center of mass of the column when the volumn I is bent, immediately commences after retract and safely bring the pencil to its normal position with reference to the normally vertically directed column I. The flow of the balls arranged in series is obviously more spontaneous and effective than if a solid or continuous length retracting weight were used.

As clearly appears the normal position of the pencil with reference to the column I is determined by the stop provided by the inner end of the screw bolt 5, upon which the bottom one of the preferred series of balls I4 becomes seated.

Using a thirteen inch length 01' column I the described extending means contemplated for the pencil stand of this invention provides a maximum range or territory, of satisfactory use of 5 the pencil I2, having a six foot diameter.

It is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact details of construction shown and described for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. V

It is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent.

, 1. In a device of the character described, a base, a coil spring-formed column supported by said base, an extensible article retracting means comprising a series of balls confined within said column, said column being constructed and formed to automatically return to its normal vertical position from a ninety degree bent position of its bottom portion and with the article concurrently gravitating and depending from the free end of the column, the device normally freely supporting the article in suspended position.

2. In a device of the character described, a base, a coil spring-formed column supported by said base, said column having a. greater length II portion provided by uniform diameter turns of spring wire and a length portion of lesser diameter turns of said wire, and an extensible article retracting means received within said column.

3. In a device of the character described, a base, a coil spring-formed column supported by said base, said column having at its bottom a greater length portion provided by uniform diameter turns of spring wire and at its top a substantially one inch length portion of lesser diameter turns of said wire, and an extensible article retracting means received within said column.

4. In a device of the character described, a base, a coil spring-formed column designed for bending supported by said base, said column having at its bottom a greater length portion provided by uniform diameter turns of spring Wire and at its top a substantially one inch length portion of lesser diameter turns of said wire, and an extensible article retracting means comprising a series of balls closely conforming in diameter to the internal diameter of the turns of said greater length portion, said series of balls operating within said greater length portion of said column.

5. In a device of the character described, a base provided with a countersunk central opening, a coil spring-formed column having different uniform diameter turn length portions merging near! the top of, said column whereby in the extended condition of the device a sole bending of the column occurs and at a point near the base of the device and this with a desired straight line of column portion outwardly beyond the bend, said column being arranged concentrically of said opening, means comprising a screw bolt having a head conforming to the countersink of said opening for uniting said column to said base through threading the threads of said screw bolt into the inner surface of the adjacent end of said column, and an extensible article retracting means comprising a series of balls operating 20 within said column, said screw bolt and said. merging portion of said column providingstops for said series of balls.

CHRISTIAN BUEHNER. 

